Post by tartantabbycat on Jun 5, 2006 2:46:05 GMT -5
Title: "What Hurts the Most"
Author: Tartantabbycat
Rating: PG
Status: complete. Sequel in the works because Poppy's got getting off that easily. ;D
Summary: Set up by their closest friends, Minerva and Albus have to wade through the rumors to get to the truth of the matter.
Albus Dumbledore sat slumped in his chair in his office and folded his arms over his chest. Between this and the beard that covered his face, his torso virtually vanished beneath the barely restrained frustration he was feeling. After what he heard today, he contemplated never emerging from his office again. He had invited Minerva to picnic with him in the gardens that evening as the long summer days afforded them much more sunlight, but she had turned him down.
Turned him down! Him! Of all the nerve! For all the attention he had been paying her lately, Albus at least expected a reasonable excuse. None had been given. She simply said that she was otherwise engaged. The least she could have done was to tell him who was taking up all of her time!
“Insufferable conceit…” he mumbled, rolling his eyes.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
High in Gryffindor Tower, Minerva sat writing furiously in her journal. She could not believe the brazen nerve of one Albus Dumbledore.
“I certainly thought him more rational and more gentleman-like than this, diary,” she fumed. “Why, the very idea of asking me on an outing when everyone knows full well, he’s seeing a perfectly respectable witch outside the school!”
The quill that Minerva had set to take down what she dictated to it scribbled along while she paced the room with her arms folded over her chest.
“He tells no one of this woman—no one knows her name, or where she comes from and then he has the audacity to see others behind her back?” Minerva grumbled. “Preposterous!”
* * * * * * * * * * * *
There was a knock at Albus’ door and Severus Snape emerged into the room.
“Headmaster, here is the report on absences and tardiness that you requested. As you can see several Hufflepuffs have…Headmaster, is something amiss?” Snape asked. Albus had not moved a muscle since Severus entered the room.
“I am simply not myself today, Severus. Do forgive me. Please, continue,” Albus replied, finally straightening his posture.
“Perhaps we could continue this later, when you are in…better spirits,” Snape replied, making a small bow and taking his leave. As Severus made his way down the steps, he was met by Poppy Pomfrey, who was on her way up.
“Professor Snape,” Madam Pomfrey politely acknowledged. “Good day. Was the Headmaster busy when you saw him?”
“I’m afraid that his disposition today would intimidate even your constitution, Poppy,” Snape replied, inwardly chiding himself for being so informal and praying that she didn’t notice. He was sorely mistaken. Madam Pomfrey looked at him a bit differently—as if she was trying to read his thoughts, but all of this passed in a fraction of a second as she made her excuse to return to her hospital wing and for some of the way, she tolerated the relative silence of Professor Snape for a walking companion. She was about to turn off to the Hospital Wing when Severus cleared his throat and spoke.
“Perhaps…Pop...Madam Pomfrey…You would favor me with your company at dinner tonight,” he said. Poppy couldn’t tell whether this was a request or a statement, but she nodded in quiet agreement and closed the door behind her. Waiting in the hospital wing, was a very fussy Pansy Parkinson. As Poppy prepared an elixir to treat the pain that the girl complained of, she listened to her babble about the latest school gossip.
“Did you know, Madam Pomfrey, that Professor McGonagall is dating Rufus Scrimgeour?” Pansy blabbed. Poppy suddenly stopped what she was doing.
“Where on earth did you hear that?” Poppy demanded, reluctantly giving the Slytherin her full attention.
“It’s been going around for simply ages. They’ve been an item for quite some time according to my sources,” Pansy continued.
“That will be enough of that gossip mongering, Miss Parkinson. Off to classes with you now,” Poppy prodded, sending the girl away. On the way back to her office she muttered, “Dating Rufus Scrimgeour…according to her sources…Ha! Only if her sources include the Quibbler.” Three steps from the office door, Poppy stopped in her tracks. She turned on her heel and made a break for the Courtyard.
“The only gossiper bigger than that repulsive girl is Rolanda Hooch…” she grumbled.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
“Minerva? Date Scrimgeour? She’d no sooner date a toad!” Rolanda crowed. Poppy stood before her with her hands on her hips. She stared at the ground and seemed to be pawing at the grass with a foot hidden beneath her skirts. Rolanda’s look softened.
“Oh come, Poppy. You don’t really believe that selfish, spoiled little brat, do you?” Rolanda asked.
“Don’t you suppose it’s possible?” Poppy asked. “Why don’t we just ask Minerva?”
Suddenly a thought dawned on her, “There’s a pleasant conversation. ‘Hello, Min. How’ve you been? By the way, are you dating Rufus Scrimgeour?’ Right. That will go over like a lead snitch in the Quidditch finals,” grumbled Poppy, wiping a hand across her forehead.
“That’s it. I’m going to go to Minerva right now to get this rumor once and for all universally contradicted,” Rolanda said, jumping up from her seat on a low stone wall.
“She’s not going to like that!” Poppy warned, running into the castle behind her. “You’re only asking for trouble!” Rolanda knocked on Professor McGonagall’s door and entered when Minerva’s curt reply of ‘come in!’ was heard.
“Finished with your work for the day? Poppy and I are debating the merit of a drink at the Three Broomsticks. What do you say? Are you in?” Rolanda prodded. Poppy stood in the doorway and leaned against it, carefully watching her friend with the concern that was often the trademark expression on her fair face.
“For heaven’s sake, Poppy, close the door before someone hears,” Minerva grumbled. When Poppy had shut the door, Minerva walked to her bed and flopped onto her back across the bedspread.
“Oh, girls, I’ve had the most trying day!” Minerva moaned.
“Tell us what’s bothering you, Minerva,” Poppy said soothingly as she sat down on the edge of the bed.
“Then we can go for that drink,” said Rolanda. The others gave her a good natured roll of their eyes and then attention returned to Minerva.
“It has simply been one of those days where any self-respecting witch would want to fling open her window and unleash a primal scream worthy of any large bestial creature in the greater wizarding world. Then this afternoon, I’m confronted with the most arrogant, inconsiderate clod that ever walked the earth,” Minerva babbled.
“Severus Snape,” Rolanda added. Minerva swatted at her and Poppy gave her a cross look. The heavy-booted flight instructor laughed. “You have to admit…you walked right into that one.” The other two ignored her.
“Come on, Minerva. Let’s go have that drink. Now, *I* am beginning to think I need one,” Poppy said, standing and helping Minerva up.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
“A few more moments here, Mr. Longbottom and I’m closing this greenhouse for the night,” Professor Sprout warned gently. Neville looked up from his work with a concerned expression.
“Just a few more minutes, please, Professor? Couldn’t you close up the other greenhouses first?” he begged. Professor Sprout chuckled and walked over to him.
“Aye, I would, boy, but this is already the last. I didn’t have the heart to stop you before I absolutely had to,” Sprout said as she patted him on the back. Neville stood up from the stool he was sitting on and began to put his things away. Slowly, he came to a stop and turned to Sprout.
“Professor, the girls in class today told me something I’m not sure I believe,” Neville asked cautiously. “I didn’t know what to think, so I thought if I asked you, you might know the truth.”
“Well, out with it, Neville. What is it?” Sprout asked gently.
“They told me that Professor Dumbledore had a mystery girlfriend in London. I told them that they oughtn’t to be spreading such a nasty rumor, but they insisted that it’s the truth. Do you know the truth, Professor? Is he really calling on a mysterious woman in London? They tell me that she’s very beautiful…but if she’s so mysterious, how can they know that she is beautiful?” Neville gushed. Sprout laughed and gave the boy’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
“Neville, don’t you worry about them girls. Girls will always be gossips just as long as there are things to gossip about. I for one, do not know with any degree of certainty the situation of the Headmaster’s love life, but what I can tell you, is that you can rest assured that if Professor Dumbledore is having mysterious intrigues in London, then he is more than capable of keeping track of all such things himself and needs no help from his students,” Sprout chuckled. “Now, back to the dormitories with you. It’s going to be lights-out soon.”
As soon as Neville was safely out of earshot, Professor Sprout hung her work robes in her office and headed back to the castle. “Dating some mystery woman…who do these kids think our Headmaster is, that James Bond fellow? Of all the…” Sprout’s eyes widened and she stopped where she stood.
“Oh….where is Rolanda Hooch when she’s needed?” Sprout muttered as she quickened her pace back to the castle.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
For Albus Dumbledore, something had to be done. He had been perfectly reasonable when he asked Minerva to dine with him. A picnic was a perfectly innocent diversion and he saw no rational reason that she could have used to back up her refusal to spend time with him. He wanted, no, needed to know why and needed to hear it from Minerva herself. Rising from his chair he left his office and climbed the stairs to Gryffindor tower, where Minerva’s rooms were situated. He knocked briskly at the door, but no one answered.
“Professor McGonagall!” he called in a rather demanding voice. “Minerva, I must speak with you!”
Still no answer.
Color rose in Albus’ cheeks and he forced his hands at his sides to keep them from forming fists. Muttering incomprehensible phrases under his breath, Dumbledore stormed away back to his own rooms. This was truly uncharacteristic of the Minerva he had known for all these years. What on earth could be making her feel this way—unless…
“Then it is true,” he whispered to himself. “She has another…then why does she not call out the name of the man?” Immediately after he began this statement, he began to think better of it. For a moment he placed himself in Minerva’s situation. If it was he that had a lady friend and Minerva was coming on to him, would it not be an uncomfortable sort of situation for anyone to suffer? Humbled, Albus returned toward his rooms.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
“So you see now, I’m very certain that Albus has another. I couldn’t possibly impose myself on him now could I? What about the other woman? What if she found out about us? She would be humiliated and my reputation tarnished. No, I won’t have it,” Minerva babbled, now having had more than one too many drinks. Rolanda looked at Poppy with a look that was half concern and half humor. She knew that something had to be done, but what? If Albus was indeed seeing another woman, then there really wasn’t anything for it. The three finally decided to catch the next carriage back to Hogwarts and decide on a form of action in the morning, when all of their heads were clearer.
When Rolanda and Poppy had seen Minerva safely back to her rooms, they caught up with Professor Sprout.
“Why, Pomona, you’re all out of breath!” Poppy cried as Sprout caught up to them.
“Where have the two of you been? I have to speak to you. I’ve heard something today that you’re not going to believe,” Pomona grumbled. The three women diverted into a small parlor and sat down to catch their breath.
“Now what’s all this nonsense about something we’re not going to believe?” Rolanda said, loosening her boots.
“I heard today from the students that the headmaster is supposedly dating some mysterious woman in London, now what do you make of that?” Pomona began.
“We heard just as ridiculous a rumor about Minerva today,” Poppy said. “They say she’s dating the Minister of Magic!”
“Preposterous!”
“Absurd!”
“Insupportable, I say,” added Poppy. “But it isn’t all together unbelievable.”
“Wait just a moment here. If you heard that Albus was dating someone in London, and you heard that Minerva is dating Rufus Scrimgeour, and the both of them are angry at each other unbeknownst to the other because of that supposed relationship, then there’s only one explanation!” Rolanda gushed. Her friends stared blankly at her.
“Oh, come off it! You must know what I’m thinking!” Rolanda cried. After a space of confused silence again she blurted out, “They’re in love with each other! Why else would they both be so worked up about the other being with someone else?”
“Oh, my…”
“Upon my word…you may have a point there…”
“You see?” Rolanda continued. “Now that we are all in agreement, what are we to do about this? Minerva is our best friend and Albus is certainly no less. We must think about doing something.” A smile spread across Poppy’s face.
“A bit of matchmaking may be in order, friends,” Poppy said, standing. “Come with me, I have an idea.”
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Poppy sat down at the desk in her office and pulled a piece of parchment out of her desk.
“What have you there, Poppy?” Rolanda asked.
“It’s a schedule of my weekend shift at St. Mungo’s,” Poppy replied, still smiling.
“What could you be thinking?” asked Pomona, leaning over a bit.
“Well, it’s a bit deceitful, and the success of this depends on what kind of actresses the two of you are, but it should work beautifully if all goes according to plan,” Poppy said.
“There. This is perfect. I will be there Saturday night. Now all I have to do is—”
“All you have to do is tell us the plan, love,” Rolanda smirked. Poppy put down the schedule and looked at her friends.
“It’s simple. At 7:30 on Saturday night, Rolanda will go to Albus and you, Mona, will go to Minerva and you will tell them the exact same thing. You will tell each of them that the other has been in a terrible accident, and that they have been transferred to St. Mungo’s for treatment. They will panic and both will meet up at St. Mungo’s looking for each other. I will be there at the hospital to make certain that everything goes smoothly. Certain people will have to be able to stall Minerva until Albus gets there,” Poppy babbled.
“What makes you so certain that Minerva will get there first?” Pomona asked.
“Albus is a thinker. He’s going to need a moment to absorb what he’s just heard. He’ll be in shock. It’s going to take him a moment before he can put his wits together and decide that he needs to be there,” Rolanda explained.
“Precisely!” said Poppy.
“You’re bloody brilliant, you know that?” Pomona said.
“I have my moments, girls. Now, all we have to do is make certain that they don’t suspect anything! In the mean time, we had all better get some rest. Spring staff meetings start tomorrow,” Poppy reminded them. With this, the three went off to bed.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The next day passed slowly, the late spring heat making their meetings nearly unbearable. When lunch time finally came around, the house elves arranged a light lunch for the staff members (the students had gone the night before to their spring holidays) and plenty of juice and water for them to quench their thirst. After the meal was done, Poppy stretched and removed her cap for a moment to scratch her scalp. Rolanda, Pomona and Minerva said they would see her later at the next meeting, and Poppy nodded to them, slowing down on one of the covered walkways to absorb some of the sunlight.
“Mmmm….it’s far to divine a day to be inside for so long!” she muttered.
“Indeed,” replied a voice. Along the outside wall of the walk was Severus. He had removed his outer robes, leaving his handsome suit, complete with stiff collar and tailored coat. The breeze occasionally ruffled his black hair, which hung like an ebony frame over his pale skin.
Poppy dropped her cap and gasped. She hadn’t even seen him standing there.
“Professor, you startled me!” Poppy stammered. “This is the second time this weekend. If we continue to make a habit of this, I fear we’ll be in a good way to get to know one another, Severus.” Poppy blurted out his name before she considered the consequences. Severus stepped forward without replying and picked Poppy’s cap up off the ground. He brushed the dust from it and then looked at her.
“May I?”
Poppy nodded stiffly, her mouth open slightly as Snape gently replaced the cap on her head and arranged the veil that covered her hair in the back.
“There, all better now,” he murmured. Poppy looked up at him, her mouth still slightly agape and her fingers starting to tingle in restraint. He was still looking at her, and she could hardly do less. Nervously, Severus averted his eyes to the ground and bit his lip before turning to leave, walking briskly back toward the castle and leaving Poppy stunned on the cloistered walkway.
“Oh, this is a disaster…” Poppy groaned, sitting down on the low wall of the walkway for a moment and covering her face with her hands. She had hardly slept the night before for thinking about their meeting in the corridor. She had kept her word and visited with him politely at dinner, but there had been something different about him that night. Just there—beyond his customary smirk—was that a smile? His eyes had also caught her attention. She was caught off guard by the shade of brown they were.
Poppy shook her head again and stood, taking long strides as she rushed back to the castle. If she didn’t hurry, she’d be late for the afternoon meeting.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
That night, at precisely 7:30, Rolanda and Pomona went into action. Rolanda made her way up the stairs to Albus’ office, and Pomona made her way to Minerva’s, each hoping that Poppy in her infinite wisdom, had been right.
Poppy’s prediction had been spot-on. Minerva left the castle immediately, pretending that she wasn’t panicking. Pomona watched as Minerva lifted her cloak with shaking hands and struggled to put it on correctly whilst remembering her wand and anything else she may need while in London. Pomona patiently helped her with her cloak, handed her the wand, and then saw her off, chuckling as soon as she was out of earshot.
Albus, meanwhile, was still sitting stock-still in his office, trying hard to imagine what sort of accident had befallen his feisty, fearless deputy.
“Is the injury terrible, Rolanda?” Albus whispered hoarsely. He could hardly form the words.
“I haven’t been there. I only just got word from Poppy. She’s there now on her weekend shift at the hospital,” Rolanda replied.
“I must go to her…” Albus replied. He had already forgotten that Rolanda was there and had forgotten that she didn’t know about his feelings for Minerva. He had watched Minerva from the time she was a student and had seen her grow into the sweet, steady woman that she was to him now. He dare not betray her at the first test of honor.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
When Albus arrived at St. Mungo’s, he could hear Minerva’s voice clearly from another room. She was shouting at someone to give her information, and the person was being less than forthcoming. ‘Good.” Albus thought. ‘Perhaps the injury she sustained was less severe than Poppy and Rolanda surmised.’ With hope in his heart, he pushed open the door.
Minerva could hardly believe her eyes. Here before her was the very man who she had been denied information about ever since her arrival at the hospital. ‘Perhaps this is a good sign.” Minerva told herself. ‘If he is upright and walking then his injuries cannot be too awful, now can they?’
“What’s happened?”
“Are you hurt terribly, Minerva?”
“They told me it was *you* who had been hurt!”
“Who told you that I was hurt?”
Albus and Minerva had crossed the room to each other and subconsciously clasped hands. After their brief exchange of words, both witch and wizard sat down slowly in the wooden chairs in the room. Neither realized that they were still holding hands, but both were still absorbing the fact that they had both been intentionally misled.
“What a terrible joke…making me think you were on your deathbed…” Minerva muttered. Albus mustered a chuckle.
“I thought for certain I would find you on yours,” he replied. He struggled with the right words for a moment and then spoke again.
“You probably had other plans this evening…you certainly would never intend to go chasing about London looking for this old man,” Albus said softly as he patted Minerva’s still trembling hands.
“I thought just the same about you. What about that lady friend here in town that I’ve been hearing about?” Minerva asked.
“What lady friend?”
“Why, the whole school has been buzzing with it! I guess…against my better judgment, I allowed a rumor to take the place of rational thought in this case,” Minerva said, turning her eyes to the floor.
“You…supposed I had someone else? Why on earth would I seek your attentions so ardently if I had intentions toward another?” Albus asked, edging a bit closer to Minerva as she lightly shook her head and tears started to fall from her eyes.
“I was afraid!” Minerva wept.
“Afraid of what?” Albus cried. “How could you be afraid of anything while you had a lover of your own?” Minerva sniffled and looked up at him.
“A lover of my own? Who told you that?” Minerva whimpered.
“Another rumor, I suppose…” Albus muttered miserably.
“I guess I was afraid to believe that anyone could really have feelings for me...Oh, Albus, I have no lover,” Minerva said, squeezing his hand. Albus lifted her chin and met her eyes; stormy, dark blue orbs that wept miserably for a reason that did not exist.
“Sweet, steady Minerva,” Albus said, pulling her closer and tucking her head against his shoulder. “Should I have really been wounded, it is a comfort to know someone would come running like that.”
“Of course I would…” Minerva said, dabbing her eyes with her tartan handkerchief. After a moment of thought, Minerva chuckled a bit herself. “I believe we’ve been set up, Albus.”
“Whatever do you mean?”
“Someone plotted for us to come running to each other’s side like this. Someone wanted us to worry and think that the other was in danger of death,” Minerva surmised.
“I think it was rather *three* someones,” Albus suggested, gesturing toward the door. Three faces blurrily registered in the light of the doorway before they gently pulled it shut and walked away. Their job was done.
“I suppose we shall have to thank them properly when the time comes,” Minerva said, sitting up and smoothing her skirts.
“Yes, when the time comes, but for now, there’s just one thing left to do,” Albus said.
“What’s that, Albus?”
Deftly, he leaned forward, took her face in his hand, and kissed her.
“Let us make our way back to Hogwarts very slowly, my dear,” Albus said, rising from the chair and extending his hand to her. “I want this night to last just a bit longer.”
“Aye, I agree,” Minerva said as a smile finally returned to her face. She looped her arm into the crook of Albus’ elbow and gave him an affectionate squeeze as they left the room. Poppy, Rolanda and Pomona were nowhere to be found, but for now it didn’t matter. For Albus and Minerva, what had hurt them the most was now resolved, and they could enjoy—really enjoy—the rest of Spring Holidays.
Though for Poppy, this holiday was about to take on a whole new meaning.
**To Be Continued!**
Author: Tartantabbycat
Rating: PG
Status: complete. Sequel in the works because Poppy's got getting off that easily. ;D
Summary: Set up by their closest friends, Minerva and Albus have to wade through the rumors to get to the truth of the matter.
Albus Dumbledore sat slumped in his chair in his office and folded his arms over his chest. Between this and the beard that covered his face, his torso virtually vanished beneath the barely restrained frustration he was feeling. After what he heard today, he contemplated never emerging from his office again. He had invited Minerva to picnic with him in the gardens that evening as the long summer days afforded them much more sunlight, but she had turned him down.
Turned him down! Him! Of all the nerve! For all the attention he had been paying her lately, Albus at least expected a reasonable excuse. None had been given. She simply said that she was otherwise engaged. The least she could have done was to tell him who was taking up all of her time!
“Insufferable conceit…” he mumbled, rolling his eyes.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
High in Gryffindor Tower, Minerva sat writing furiously in her journal. She could not believe the brazen nerve of one Albus Dumbledore.
“I certainly thought him more rational and more gentleman-like than this, diary,” she fumed. “Why, the very idea of asking me on an outing when everyone knows full well, he’s seeing a perfectly respectable witch outside the school!”
The quill that Minerva had set to take down what she dictated to it scribbled along while she paced the room with her arms folded over her chest.
“He tells no one of this woman—no one knows her name, or where she comes from and then he has the audacity to see others behind her back?” Minerva grumbled. “Preposterous!”
* * * * * * * * * * * *
There was a knock at Albus’ door and Severus Snape emerged into the room.
“Headmaster, here is the report on absences and tardiness that you requested. As you can see several Hufflepuffs have…Headmaster, is something amiss?” Snape asked. Albus had not moved a muscle since Severus entered the room.
“I am simply not myself today, Severus. Do forgive me. Please, continue,” Albus replied, finally straightening his posture.
“Perhaps we could continue this later, when you are in…better spirits,” Snape replied, making a small bow and taking his leave. As Severus made his way down the steps, he was met by Poppy Pomfrey, who was on her way up.
“Professor Snape,” Madam Pomfrey politely acknowledged. “Good day. Was the Headmaster busy when you saw him?”
“I’m afraid that his disposition today would intimidate even your constitution, Poppy,” Snape replied, inwardly chiding himself for being so informal and praying that she didn’t notice. He was sorely mistaken. Madam Pomfrey looked at him a bit differently—as if she was trying to read his thoughts, but all of this passed in a fraction of a second as she made her excuse to return to her hospital wing and for some of the way, she tolerated the relative silence of Professor Snape for a walking companion. She was about to turn off to the Hospital Wing when Severus cleared his throat and spoke.
“Perhaps…Pop...Madam Pomfrey…You would favor me with your company at dinner tonight,” he said. Poppy couldn’t tell whether this was a request or a statement, but she nodded in quiet agreement and closed the door behind her. Waiting in the hospital wing, was a very fussy Pansy Parkinson. As Poppy prepared an elixir to treat the pain that the girl complained of, she listened to her babble about the latest school gossip.
“Did you know, Madam Pomfrey, that Professor McGonagall is dating Rufus Scrimgeour?” Pansy blabbed. Poppy suddenly stopped what she was doing.
“Where on earth did you hear that?” Poppy demanded, reluctantly giving the Slytherin her full attention.
“It’s been going around for simply ages. They’ve been an item for quite some time according to my sources,” Pansy continued.
“That will be enough of that gossip mongering, Miss Parkinson. Off to classes with you now,” Poppy prodded, sending the girl away. On the way back to her office she muttered, “Dating Rufus Scrimgeour…according to her sources…Ha! Only if her sources include the Quibbler.” Three steps from the office door, Poppy stopped in her tracks. She turned on her heel and made a break for the Courtyard.
“The only gossiper bigger than that repulsive girl is Rolanda Hooch…” she grumbled.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
“Minerva? Date Scrimgeour? She’d no sooner date a toad!” Rolanda crowed. Poppy stood before her with her hands on her hips. She stared at the ground and seemed to be pawing at the grass with a foot hidden beneath her skirts. Rolanda’s look softened.
“Oh come, Poppy. You don’t really believe that selfish, spoiled little brat, do you?” Rolanda asked.
“Don’t you suppose it’s possible?” Poppy asked. “Why don’t we just ask Minerva?”
Suddenly a thought dawned on her, “There’s a pleasant conversation. ‘Hello, Min. How’ve you been? By the way, are you dating Rufus Scrimgeour?’ Right. That will go over like a lead snitch in the Quidditch finals,” grumbled Poppy, wiping a hand across her forehead.
“That’s it. I’m going to go to Minerva right now to get this rumor once and for all universally contradicted,” Rolanda said, jumping up from her seat on a low stone wall.
“She’s not going to like that!” Poppy warned, running into the castle behind her. “You’re only asking for trouble!” Rolanda knocked on Professor McGonagall’s door and entered when Minerva’s curt reply of ‘come in!’ was heard.
“Finished with your work for the day? Poppy and I are debating the merit of a drink at the Three Broomsticks. What do you say? Are you in?” Rolanda prodded. Poppy stood in the doorway and leaned against it, carefully watching her friend with the concern that was often the trademark expression on her fair face.
“For heaven’s sake, Poppy, close the door before someone hears,” Minerva grumbled. When Poppy had shut the door, Minerva walked to her bed and flopped onto her back across the bedspread.
“Oh, girls, I’ve had the most trying day!” Minerva moaned.
“Tell us what’s bothering you, Minerva,” Poppy said soothingly as she sat down on the edge of the bed.
“Then we can go for that drink,” said Rolanda. The others gave her a good natured roll of their eyes and then attention returned to Minerva.
“It has simply been one of those days where any self-respecting witch would want to fling open her window and unleash a primal scream worthy of any large bestial creature in the greater wizarding world. Then this afternoon, I’m confronted with the most arrogant, inconsiderate clod that ever walked the earth,” Minerva babbled.
“Severus Snape,” Rolanda added. Minerva swatted at her and Poppy gave her a cross look. The heavy-booted flight instructor laughed. “You have to admit…you walked right into that one.” The other two ignored her.
“Come on, Minerva. Let’s go have that drink. Now, *I* am beginning to think I need one,” Poppy said, standing and helping Minerva up.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
“A few more moments here, Mr. Longbottom and I’m closing this greenhouse for the night,” Professor Sprout warned gently. Neville looked up from his work with a concerned expression.
“Just a few more minutes, please, Professor? Couldn’t you close up the other greenhouses first?” he begged. Professor Sprout chuckled and walked over to him.
“Aye, I would, boy, but this is already the last. I didn’t have the heart to stop you before I absolutely had to,” Sprout said as she patted him on the back. Neville stood up from the stool he was sitting on and began to put his things away. Slowly, he came to a stop and turned to Sprout.
“Professor, the girls in class today told me something I’m not sure I believe,” Neville asked cautiously. “I didn’t know what to think, so I thought if I asked you, you might know the truth.”
“Well, out with it, Neville. What is it?” Sprout asked gently.
“They told me that Professor Dumbledore had a mystery girlfriend in London. I told them that they oughtn’t to be spreading such a nasty rumor, but they insisted that it’s the truth. Do you know the truth, Professor? Is he really calling on a mysterious woman in London? They tell me that she’s very beautiful…but if she’s so mysterious, how can they know that she is beautiful?” Neville gushed. Sprout laughed and gave the boy’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
“Neville, don’t you worry about them girls. Girls will always be gossips just as long as there are things to gossip about. I for one, do not know with any degree of certainty the situation of the Headmaster’s love life, but what I can tell you, is that you can rest assured that if Professor Dumbledore is having mysterious intrigues in London, then he is more than capable of keeping track of all such things himself and needs no help from his students,” Sprout chuckled. “Now, back to the dormitories with you. It’s going to be lights-out soon.”
As soon as Neville was safely out of earshot, Professor Sprout hung her work robes in her office and headed back to the castle. “Dating some mystery woman…who do these kids think our Headmaster is, that James Bond fellow? Of all the…” Sprout’s eyes widened and she stopped where she stood.
“Oh….where is Rolanda Hooch when she’s needed?” Sprout muttered as she quickened her pace back to the castle.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
For Albus Dumbledore, something had to be done. He had been perfectly reasonable when he asked Minerva to dine with him. A picnic was a perfectly innocent diversion and he saw no rational reason that she could have used to back up her refusal to spend time with him. He wanted, no, needed to know why and needed to hear it from Minerva herself. Rising from his chair he left his office and climbed the stairs to Gryffindor tower, where Minerva’s rooms were situated. He knocked briskly at the door, but no one answered.
“Professor McGonagall!” he called in a rather demanding voice. “Minerva, I must speak with you!”
Still no answer.
Color rose in Albus’ cheeks and he forced his hands at his sides to keep them from forming fists. Muttering incomprehensible phrases under his breath, Dumbledore stormed away back to his own rooms. This was truly uncharacteristic of the Minerva he had known for all these years. What on earth could be making her feel this way—unless…
“Then it is true,” he whispered to himself. “She has another…then why does she not call out the name of the man?” Immediately after he began this statement, he began to think better of it. For a moment he placed himself in Minerva’s situation. If it was he that had a lady friend and Minerva was coming on to him, would it not be an uncomfortable sort of situation for anyone to suffer? Humbled, Albus returned toward his rooms.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
“So you see now, I’m very certain that Albus has another. I couldn’t possibly impose myself on him now could I? What about the other woman? What if she found out about us? She would be humiliated and my reputation tarnished. No, I won’t have it,” Minerva babbled, now having had more than one too many drinks. Rolanda looked at Poppy with a look that was half concern and half humor. She knew that something had to be done, but what? If Albus was indeed seeing another woman, then there really wasn’t anything for it. The three finally decided to catch the next carriage back to Hogwarts and decide on a form of action in the morning, when all of their heads were clearer.
When Rolanda and Poppy had seen Minerva safely back to her rooms, they caught up with Professor Sprout.
“Why, Pomona, you’re all out of breath!” Poppy cried as Sprout caught up to them.
“Where have the two of you been? I have to speak to you. I’ve heard something today that you’re not going to believe,” Pomona grumbled. The three women diverted into a small parlor and sat down to catch their breath.
“Now what’s all this nonsense about something we’re not going to believe?” Rolanda said, loosening her boots.
“I heard today from the students that the headmaster is supposedly dating some mysterious woman in London, now what do you make of that?” Pomona began.
“We heard just as ridiculous a rumor about Minerva today,” Poppy said. “They say she’s dating the Minister of Magic!”
“Preposterous!”
“Absurd!”
“Insupportable, I say,” added Poppy. “But it isn’t all together unbelievable.”
“Wait just a moment here. If you heard that Albus was dating someone in London, and you heard that Minerva is dating Rufus Scrimgeour, and the both of them are angry at each other unbeknownst to the other because of that supposed relationship, then there’s only one explanation!” Rolanda gushed. Her friends stared blankly at her.
“Oh, come off it! You must know what I’m thinking!” Rolanda cried. After a space of confused silence again she blurted out, “They’re in love with each other! Why else would they both be so worked up about the other being with someone else?”
“Oh, my…”
“Upon my word…you may have a point there…”
“You see?” Rolanda continued. “Now that we are all in agreement, what are we to do about this? Minerva is our best friend and Albus is certainly no less. We must think about doing something.” A smile spread across Poppy’s face.
“A bit of matchmaking may be in order, friends,” Poppy said, standing. “Come with me, I have an idea.”
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Poppy sat down at the desk in her office and pulled a piece of parchment out of her desk.
“What have you there, Poppy?” Rolanda asked.
“It’s a schedule of my weekend shift at St. Mungo’s,” Poppy replied, still smiling.
“What could you be thinking?” asked Pomona, leaning over a bit.
“Well, it’s a bit deceitful, and the success of this depends on what kind of actresses the two of you are, but it should work beautifully if all goes according to plan,” Poppy said.
“There. This is perfect. I will be there Saturday night. Now all I have to do is—”
“All you have to do is tell us the plan, love,” Rolanda smirked. Poppy put down the schedule and looked at her friends.
“It’s simple. At 7:30 on Saturday night, Rolanda will go to Albus and you, Mona, will go to Minerva and you will tell them the exact same thing. You will tell each of them that the other has been in a terrible accident, and that they have been transferred to St. Mungo’s for treatment. They will panic and both will meet up at St. Mungo’s looking for each other. I will be there at the hospital to make certain that everything goes smoothly. Certain people will have to be able to stall Minerva until Albus gets there,” Poppy babbled.
“What makes you so certain that Minerva will get there first?” Pomona asked.
“Albus is a thinker. He’s going to need a moment to absorb what he’s just heard. He’ll be in shock. It’s going to take him a moment before he can put his wits together and decide that he needs to be there,” Rolanda explained.
“Precisely!” said Poppy.
“You’re bloody brilliant, you know that?” Pomona said.
“I have my moments, girls. Now, all we have to do is make certain that they don’t suspect anything! In the mean time, we had all better get some rest. Spring staff meetings start tomorrow,” Poppy reminded them. With this, the three went off to bed.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The next day passed slowly, the late spring heat making their meetings nearly unbearable. When lunch time finally came around, the house elves arranged a light lunch for the staff members (the students had gone the night before to their spring holidays) and plenty of juice and water for them to quench their thirst. After the meal was done, Poppy stretched and removed her cap for a moment to scratch her scalp. Rolanda, Pomona and Minerva said they would see her later at the next meeting, and Poppy nodded to them, slowing down on one of the covered walkways to absorb some of the sunlight.
“Mmmm….it’s far to divine a day to be inside for so long!” she muttered.
“Indeed,” replied a voice. Along the outside wall of the walk was Severus. He had removed his outer robes, leaving his handsome suit, complete with stiff collar and tailored coat. The breeze occasionally ruffled his black hair, which hung like an ebony frame over his pale skin.
Poppy dropped her cap and gasped. She hadn’t even seen him standing there.
“Professor, you startled me!” Poppy stammered. “This is the second time this weekend. If we continue to make a habit of this, I fear we’ll be in a good way to get to know one another, Severus.” Poppy blurted out his name before she considered the consequences. Severus stepped forward without replying and picked Poppy’s cap up off the ground. He brushed the dust from it and then looked at her.
“May I?”
Poppy nodded stiffly, her mouth open slightly as Snape gently replaced the cap on her head and arranged the veil that covered her hair in the back.
“There, all better now,” he murmured. Poppy looked up at him, her mouth still slightly agape and her fingers starting to tingle in restraint. He was still looking at her, and she could hardly do less. Nervously, Severus averted his eyes to the ground and bit his lip before turning to leave, walking briskly back toward the castle and leaving Poppy stunned on the cloistered walkway.
“Oh, this is a disaster…” Poppy groaned, sitting down on the low wall of the walkway for a moment and covering her face with her hands. She had hardly slept the night before for thinking about their meeting in the corridor. She had kept her word and visited with him politely at dinner, but there had been something different about him that night. Just there—beyond his customary smirk—was that a smile? His eyes had also caught her attention. She was caught off guard by the shade of brown they were.
Poppy shook her head again and stood, taking long strides as she rushed back to the castle. If she didn’t hurry, she’d be late for the afternoon meeting.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
That night, at precisely 7:30, Rolanda and Pomona went into action. Rolanda made her way up the stairs to Albus’ office, and Pomona made her way to Minerva’s, each hoping that Poppy in her infinite wisdom, had been right.
Poppy’s prediction had been spot-on. Minerva left the castle immediately, pretending that she wasn’t panicking. Pomona watched as Minerva lifted her cloak with shaking hands and struggled to put it on correctly whilst remembering her wand and anything else she may need while in London. Pomona patiently helped her with her cloak, handed her the wand, and then saw her off, chuckling as soon as she was out of earshot.
Albus, meanwhile, was still sitting stock-still in his office, trying hard to imagine what sort of accident had befallen his feisty, fearless deputy.
“Is the injury terrible, Rolanda?” Albus whispered hoarsely. He could hardly form the words.
“I haven’t been there. I only just got word from Poppy. She’s there now on her weekend shift at the hospital,” Rolanda replied.
“I must go to her…” Albus replied. He had already forgotten that Rolanda was there and had forgotten that she didn’t know about his feelings for Minerva. He had watched Minerva from the time she was a student and had seen her grow into the sweet, steady woman that she was to him now. He dare not betray her at the first test of honor.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
When Albus arrived at St. Mungo’s, he could hear Minerva’s voice clearly from another room. She was shouting at someone to give her information, and the person was being less than forthcoming. ‘Good.” Albus thought. ‘Perhaps the injury she sustained was less severe than Poppy and Rolanda surmised.’ With hope in his heart, he pushed open the door.
Minerva could hardly believe her eyes. Here before her was the very man who she had been denied information about ever since her arrival at the hospital. ‘Perhaps this is a good sign.” Minerva told herself. ‘If he is upright and walking then his injuries cannot be too awful, now can they?’
“What’s happened?”
“Are you hurt terribly, Minerva?”
“They told me it was *you* who had been hurt!”
“Who told you that I was hurt?”
Albus and Minerva had crossed the room to each other and subconsciously clasped hands. After their brief exchange of words, both witch and wizard sat down slowly in the wooden chairs in the room. Neither realized that they were still holding hands, but both were still absorbing the fact that they had both been intentionally misled.
“What a terrible joke…making me think you were on your deathbed…” Minerva muttered. Albus mustered a chuckle.
“I thought for certain I would find you on yours,” he replied. He struggled with the right words for a moment and then spoke again.
“You probably had other plans this evening…you certainly would never intend to go chasing about London looking for this old man,” Albus said softly as he patted Minerva’s still trembling hands.
“I thought just the same about you. What about that lady friend here in town that I’ve been hearing about?” Minerva asked.
“What lady friend?”
“Why, the whole school has been buzzing with it! I guess…against my better judgment, I allowed a rumor to take the place of rational thought in this case,” Minerva said, turning her eyes to the floor.
“You…supposed I had someone else? Why on earth would I seek your attentions so ardently if I had intentions toward another?” Albus asked, edging a bit closer to Minerva as she lightly shook her head and tears started to fall from her eyes.
“I was afraid!” Minerva wept.
“Afraid of what?” Albus cried. “How could you be afraid of anything while you had a lover of your own?” Minerva sniffled and looked up at him.
“A lover of my own? Who told you that?” Minerva whimpered.
“Another rumor, I suppose…” Albus muttered miserably.
“I guess I was afraid to believe that anyone could really have feelings for me...Oh, Albus, I have no lover,” Minerva said, squeezing his hand. Albus lifted her chin and met her eyes; stormy, dark blue orbs that wept miserably for a reason that did not exist.
“Sweet, steady Minerva,” Albus said, pulling her closer and tucking her head against his shoulder. “Should I have really been wounded, it is a comfort to know someone would come running like that.”
“Of course I would…” Minerva said, dabbing her eyes with her tartan handkerchief. After a moment of thought, Minerva chuckled a bit herself. “I believe we’ve been set up, Albus.”
“Whatever do you mean?”
“Someone plotted for us to come running to each other’s side like this. Someone wanted us to worry and think that the other was in danger of death,” Minerva surmised.
“I think it was rather *three* someones,” Albus suggested, gesturing toward the door. Three faces blurrily registered in the light of the doorway before they gently pulled it shut and walked away. Their job was done.
“I suppose we shall have to thank them properly when the time comes,” Minerva said, sitting up and smoothing her skirts.
“Yes, when the time comes, but for now, there’s just one thing left to do,” Albus said.
“What’s that, Albus?”
Deftly, he leaned forward, took her face in his hand, and kissed her.
“Let us make our way back to Hogwarts very slowly, my dear,” Albus said, rising from the chair and extending his hand to her. “I want this night to last just a bit longer.”
“Aye, I agree,” Minerva said as a smile finally returned to her face. She looped her arm into the crook of Albus’ elbow and gave him an affectionate squeeze as they left the room. Poppy, Rolanda and Pomona were nowhere to be found, but for now it didn’t matter. For Albus and Minerva, what had hurt them the most was now resolved, and they could enjoy—really enjoy—the rest of Spring Holidays.
Though for Poppy, this holiday was about to take on a whole new meaning.
**To Be Continued!**
xXx 
=]
